Smart City: Barcelona

SUMMARY:

It intends a model of a sustainable city and social reach of technology in the future. Starting with Barcelona as a model, it is suggests a correct approach and management to achieve a balance between the effective and efficient creation of economic and industrial activities (like hence jobs) and improving the quality of citizens life.

Technology is the key tool to achieve certain objectives, among which are: saving resources obtaining the same services, to attract foreigners, to create new opportunities in the city and improve life quality of the dwellers.The Smart City concept has changed over time, the involvement of society is a key point that has gained much importance in the last years. A city it can be considered sustainable when it is built by both, by public and by governments.

Thus, in order to manage a smart city, the needs of citizens must be known. Helping  integrate them and involve them in the process of creation and improvement of future smart cities, it is another important point.

COMMENT:

This article suggests the needs of city dwellers taking them into account when planning urban life. Moreover, the new talks about technology, but we can talk about another way to promote the sustainability of cities: the promotion of renewable energy (by the use of signage, lighting).

Another point to consider for achieving this sustainability is the fact of promoting collective public transport in order to reduce energy consumption and pollution levels. All this leads to a better quality of life. A truly smart city is one that can have a very advanced development and at the same time be promoting the lives of those who are part of the city.

El Gallinero, an example of shack near a rich city, Madrid

SUMMARY:

A case of extremely poor neighborhood a few kilometers from downtown Madrid, where the houses have no water and due to this, family members can not drink, take a shower or cook.

Children live daily between rats and snakes, among debris and dirt. This is the shanty neighborhood called El Gallinero, with a population of 435, the vast majority with romanian nationality. More than half of the members of the district are minors. Many of them live in appalling and inhumane conditions.

According to statistics, 98% of the district kids won’t reach the 60 years old (when the average in Spain is 7.8%). The percentage of illiterates in the neighborhood is 78%, compared to 11% of the national level.

COMMENT:

This story exemplifies the concept of "Fourth World". With the example of "El Gallinero" know the case of a neighborhood with the characteristics of conglomerations of shacks. It is an area without any planning, located a few meters from Madrid, the Spanish capital with a high level of economic and social development. Living conditions of the people there are undignified. Furthermore, as is common, the people who live there are from another country, so it can also be considered that there was a spatial segregation. El Gallinero is a neighborhood with a human poverty index characteristic of an underdeveloped country like Ethiopia. What is unbelievable is that is next to Madrid. The city hall should pay attention to the needs of ALL its citizens, no matter their situation. Honestly, I think that with all the money of the corruption we not only could help people who live in shacks, we could improve aspects as education, health, etc.

Can the UN Security Council Stop Hospitals Being Targets in War?

NEW

SUMMARY:

The UN Security Council members are considering the attacks to Hospitals in war zones like Syria. The lack of respect of health care provocated the searching of a resolution. But as always, it all started after the Al Quds Hospital in Aleppo was bombed. The most qualified paediatrician Dr Muhammad Waseem Maaz died there. Hospitals in Syria are usually targeted by government and Russian air forces.

Furthermore, the organization Medicins Sans Frontieres, which can not stay in some areas because they are not protected enough to work there, said that bombs against health care are so frequent recently. No one should be killed because of a war, it doesn't matter if it is a civilan of the country or health care personnel who just do their work helping wounded and injured innocent people. In fact, they should be more respected.

VOCABULARY:

Paediatrician: pediatra

Wounded: ferit

Targeted: select as an object of attention or attack

PERSONAL OPINION:

Any war should not exist and no one would have to die due to this reason. Any house should be bombed, and it is worse (and unbelievable) attack places that have to be protected and respected, like hospitals or schools. It is totally a lack of respect. But how this will stop if even the refugees are bombed?

Civilans will always be the ones who recieve the consequences of governments and terrorist groups acts. It is very beautiful to talk about human rights, but they are necessary to put them into practice. They had been created after a World War for something, not to be written.

Why the world needs a UN leader who stands up for human rights

NEW

SUMMARY:

Soldiers peacekeepers of the United Nations (recognized by the blue helmets) shot a family in Central African Republic, instead of protecting them. They shot a 61 year-old man and his son, and when the daughter ran to reach her wounded relatives, they shot her too. Moreover, there are other disappointing cases such as sexual explotation and abuse committed by the peacekeepers.

This case reflects that UN failed in protecting civilans, as in Syria or South Sudan. The UN Security Council seems to not accomplish with the purpose of take care of people's security: richest and powerful countries have always the last saying in politics. So many times, members of the Security Council vetoed efforts to respond Syrian or Yemen wars, where died almost 300.000 innocents.

Human rights, which seem controversial to talk about, are not protected by the UN, and this leads to instability. For this reason, the next Secretary-General who will replace Ban Ki-moon will have to know how to prevent mass violations, protect civilans in conflict and deal with the refugee crisis.

VOCABULARY:

Helmet: casc

Wounded: ferit

Vetoed: vetat

PERSONAL OPINION:

Who can guarantee the validity and protection of human rights if even UN soldiers does not meet their goals and, moreover, violate the universal rights? It seems impossible for us to reach a society of peace, not only because of the wars, but for the disappointing work of who are supposed to help. But like everything in this society, while money and power go above humanity, we won't achieve so much. In addition, we can not speak of democracy if there are countries with veto power. The UN has avoid so many conflicts that could break out, but does not meet the expectations at all.

Step It Up for Gender Equality

NEW

SUMMARY:

Nowadays, in general, the world improved women's empowerment and situation (in terms of gender equality), but we still have to face inequalities in public sphere. For example, it is true that the number of women in parliament has increased significantly, but in most countries females still earn until a 40% less of men wages. Moreover, in private space, is important to carry on protecting women rights, and avoid cases of physical or sexual violence.

The key of promoting global sustainability is education: there are more girls that can't go to school than boys, in fact, the half of them. We have achieved and faced a lot of challenges, but all citizens of this planet have to continue improving gender equality if we really want a peaceful and prosperous world where live.

Ambassador Walther Lichem

VOCABULARY:

Wages: salari

Prosperous: pròsper

Empowerment: potenciació

PERSONAL OPINION:

Compared with the past century, it is true that we have improved so many aspects of women's rights. Although we are in 21st century, living in a developed society which go through constant changes, we still need to stop gender inequality and violence, sensitize people that regardless of gender, all of us are humans, and no one is less than anyone.

But how will we achieve this if women still earn less money that their coworkers? So as always I say, society needs to make an effort and be equal with all humans (in work or in whatever), and relating to private area, if we don't want future men to be chauvinistic and aggressors, we have to educate children on equality. Prevention is always better than cure.

Cameron at large: Want Not to Become a Terrorist? Speak Fluent English!

NEW

SUMMARY:

Last January, David Cameron said that muslim woman who doesn't use and speak English in a high level could be deported from the country. In addition, he explained that the fact of not being able of speak the language fluently can make them more susceptible to terrorists messages, such as IS one's. David Cameron talked about testing them if they want to lay down in England: it is a part of building a community integration.

The words of the Prime Minister have been criticized by a lot of people in Britain. Most of them said that is unfair, disgraceful and sloppy making policies using stereotypes of English muslim communities. In the end, it gets worse the situation and the life of women who live in this society full of gender inequality, that in addition, they are foreign and their religion is judged constantly.

VOCABULARY:

Sloppy: descuidat

Fluently: amb fluidesa

Policies: polítiques

PERSONAL OPINION:

Personally, I think what Cameron said is incredibly disappointing. I totally agree with the fact that every person from another country who decides to emigrate should learn the language of the new land, and integrate in areas such as culture, work, etc. But I disagree with the idea of being susceptible to listen and heeding terrorist messages due to a low level of English. There is no connection between one thing an another!

Cameron, as seen in the new, it contradicts. Being a Prime Minister, he should not said such nonsense. I know that since Charlie Hebdo, Paris attacks and now Brussels, muslim community is more judged than ever, but I hate generalizations. Be fool and misinterpret a holy book to kill people is not religion. So let's try to educate without prejudice: everyone have to talk the language of the country where they live because of living there, not to avoid being a follower of terrorist groups, it does not even make sense.

Activists Accuse India of Violating UN Convention on Child Rights

NEW

SUMMARY:

An incident with tragical final of a juvenile who beaten and raped a 23 year old female, opened the debate about the age which is considered being adult. Human rights defenders that work for child rights said that changing the age will go against the UN on the Rights of the Child, and against the global commitment of India to child rights.

It is proved that juvenile crime increased highly in India the last years. There are many factors that caused this situation: negligence and ignorance of the parents, poor socio-economic status, family pressure, etc. The ones who defend children's rights said that the key of avoiding incidents among juveniles is not reduce the age of an adult, but help them to grow up to be good persons, imparting better education and moral values, with the support of the government.

VOCABULARY:

Commitment: compromís

Beaten: batut

Negligence: falta d'atenció, descuidar

PERSONAL OPINION:

If I have to be honest and if it is in my hands, I won't reduce the age. First of all, because if they change it and unfortunately another crime of a 15 year-old, then the debate will be opened again. So before than thinking of the sentences to the juveniles, it is essential to avoid similar cases.

As is said in the new, stimulate education and teach moral values since children are little, will be the only viable solution. It seems to be impossible because there are many factors that would make it difficult (the social status, families, influences) but we don't lose anything trying it. Grow up with good values inculcated is the key to become a civilized human.

Tanzania: Girls Struggle to Avoid Forced Marriage, Yearn to Learn

NEW

SUMMARY:

Tanzania is one of the countries where a high number of adolescents between 15 and 19 years old became pregnant, exactly one in every six teenagers. In addition, this happens because the poverty that families live is the factor and the reason why parents force their daughters to marry: they treat them as financial assets. Furthermore, it is also a tradition, that attempts girls rights.

Maria is one example: she decided to run away from her parents house before the marriage. But she found another issue: she was pregnant of the man who accompanied her to school during a long time. Most of the unwanted pregnancies are because of the lack of reproductive health information.

Maria represents thousands of tanzanians girls whom dreams break due to pregnancy. For this reason, the UNESCO have created vocational training to give to these young mums a chance to change the course of their lives. Through the education, girls will improve their social and economic wellbeing, and redefine their way.

VOCABULARY:

Financial assets: actius financers

Unwanted: no desitjat

Pregnancy: embaràs

PERSONAL OPINION:

Every human should chose their decisions in life and anyone should force them to do things that they don't like. I mean, bind a girl to a man who she doesn't love it will only hurt her, and also it is probably that the man will rape and stuck her. They can not say that it is a tradition, because is a violation of a human right. Additionally, teenagers girls must be in school studying to have a good future, not pregnant.

From my point of view, UNESCO's initiative is an amazing idea, because it lights up a lifestyle that seemed to be dark. The session training skills is a chance to those girls with babies to change and improve their wellbeing.

Emerging Technology Has Positive Impact in Classroom

LINK

SUMMARY:

Stacey Roshan is a mathematics teacher of a private school that made an experiment through technology to see how the results of her students increased. Roshan could see during three years how her students were confused and stagnant.

Most of them wanted to work just problems in class, for this reason Stacey changed her lessons plans: by using Camtasia Studio, she uploaded her video lectures so they could listen to them in their house (as homework) and once in class, only work in problems. In this way, students were more motivated and had and active participation in class. Stacey Roshan experienced how her students marks increased rapidly by this method. Lots of teachers start to use technology in their class and all of them saw the positive benefits of it.

Tracy, director of an Academy who implant technology in his center, said that having a flexible budget helps to innovate in education. He is sure that: If it's successful, it's designed to be replicable in the public schools." Regarding to public schools, new initiatives have been promoted, for example, the use of Ipads in class.

VOCABULARY:

Replicable: aplicable

Lectures: conferències

Stagnant: estancat

PERSONAL OPINION:

Being in 21st century, we might change some things in education that for us are normal and traditional. We have to adapt our lives with technological advances and take profit from it, in all the fields. Stacey Roshan is a PROOF that a good use of technology can help students in their marks, and use the time in the best way. She is still doing her job, but in other way, a way that really works and motivates students.

In my case, we use technology in class (as in English, Psychology or History) but I really believe that we could improve it and expand it to all the subjects. Although it seems to be difficult, I don’t think that we will carry on with our traditional method much longer. I hope in a future we can enjoy technology as a normal fact in education and admire how can helps us.

Can mobile apps help to improve our health?

LINK

SUMMARY:

Mobile applications will help us to improve our health. In fact, some experiments created by experts work currently. Professionals from Belfast and the EU, all of them are participants of the World Health Organization Network, are sure that technology is the key to face and tackling diseases such as Alzheimer's. In 2015, a convention for Alzheimer's revealed an app that simulates persons to establish life goals as exercise or nutrition to manage stress and brain stimulation (those two aspects are reasons of the beginning of the memory disease).

Moreover, it exists another app, Experior, that helps doctors in training to polish and hone their readings X-Rays. Experior was created by Tom Lynch, head of Nuclear Medicine, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. Since 2014, they are starting to think about using the same technology as the Experior one to apply it in other medical fields, like gynaecology or obstetrics. The main countries which are working on this, are Northern Ireland, Finland, Wales and UK, among others as EU and US.

VOCABULARY:

Hone: perfeccionar, pulir

Unveiled: van revelar

Tackling: fer front

PERSONAL OPINION:

Technology is always a discussion topic that presents us if it is beneficial to our lives to be involved in it. We often relate technological advances to social networks and the vice that they cause. But, have we thought about the benefits that technology can provide us in fields like health?

We've seen practical cases as bionic arms and legs, deaf people who finally could hear through a device, blind persons who thanks of special glasses can see. So, don't you think that it would be incredible to prevent diseases like Alzheimer with an app?

From my point of view, experts are the engine of our era and those discovers are really surprising. In a future, if all this experiments develope and turn popular, we will thank all the experts that made possible the prevention of having a grandfather with Alzheimer, or being an Alzheimer victim, you never know.

Auschwitz survivor is world's oldest man - Guinness World Records

LINK

SUMMARY:

Yisrael Kristal, borned in Poland in 1903, is 112 years old. His life is full of historical facts: he lived two world wars and the Holocaust. He was a student of a religious school when the first world war began and had to be separated from his parents. Then he moved to Lodz, to work in a confectionary business. His family and him were sent to Lodz concentration camp. His two kids died in the moment of the ghetto liquidation, and once moved to Auschwitz, his wife was murdered and he survived working as a slave.

In 1945, he was found anorexic. In 1950, with his second wife and his son, he returned to work in the confectionary business. As his daughter explains, Kristal continued with his beliefs and he shows an incredible optimism.

Having lived a life full of injustices and misfortune, the survivor Yisrael Kristal do not know the reason of his long life. The previous oldest man died in January, and the oldest woman alive is believed to be an american woman, Susannah Mushatt Jones (115 years old).

VOCABULARY:

Lodz: Is the third largest city in Poland.

Ghetto: Put in or restrict to an isolated or segregated area or group.

PERSONAL OPINION:

“I see humans but not humanity”. This is the sentence that comes to my head every time I remember historical facts like the Holocaust, the Palestinian and Israeli conflict, or the nowadays Syrian conflict.

No one can know better the nazi extermination, that murdered almost 7 million jews, as Kristal. It is unbelievable that there are people who think that the Holocaust is the product of myths and fables (yes, it is an ideology currently active).

When we are in history class and we talk about wars we just think that we are going to memorize what happened in the past and write it in the examn. But then when you see news like this, you realize that it is not too distant to our present. The case of Yisrael is really admirable and surprising, who would have said that the oldest man in 2016 would be a survivour of the Holocaust?

The amazing love story of the 77-year-old husband pleading with strangers on the street for a kidney to save his sick wife

LINK

SUMMARY:

Larry Swilling is a South Carolinian man who is married with Jimmie Sue, a woman who was born with only one kidney. They have been married 57, and now that she needs another one to survive, her husband looks for an organ on his own. While the couple waits for a donor (that could TAKE three years minimum), Larry asks strangers in the street if they would donate a kidney for his wife. Swilling wears a signboard where it can be read “Need Kidney 4 wife”.

Swilling has not found someone compatible with Jimmie (also he is not a match), even they recieved hundreds of callings of volunteers to be tested. The Swillings are happy because maybe the volunteers will donate their kidney to another patients, who are needed like Sue. As Jimmie Sue said: “If I get a kidney, fine. If I don't, I hope omeone else does”.

VOCABULARY:

Kidney: ronyó

Match: a person or thing able to contend with another as an equal in quality or strength

PERSONAL OPINION:

“In health and disease” is what we say when we marry someone, but we'll really act properly under these circumstances? What will you do for your better half? Larry and Jimmie are the kind of relationship that any one would like to live. They are made to love and take care of each other. All what Larry does for Jimmie is a prove of his love. It is crazy to think the idea of going down to the street with a signboard looking for somebody compatible with the love of your life.

It is also a good gesture from the volunteers the fact that if they can't help Jimmie, they may be compatible with OTHER persons in need and they will save their life. Larry will continue looking for an organ for the love of his life, meanwhile, he is indirectly helping another people. Love can do incredible things, and Larry gives us a life lesson.

Starved to death and left to MUMMIFY in the world's worst zoo: Once proud animals including lions and crocodiles are now no more than horrifying 'statues' after carers had to stop feeding them

LINK

SUMMARY:

Mohammed Awaida inaugurated his zoo South Forest Park in 9 years ago in Khan Younis, a city of Gaza, Palestine. He spent millions of dollars into bring animals from around the world, by through a tunel, as he explains in the video. A year later, in 2008, when Palestinian and Isreali conflict reactivated, the rockets attacks made staff unable to take care of them, so most of them died because of neglect or starvation. In addition of the almost 2000 Palestinians killed, 80 animals have died in another Palesinian zoo, the Al-Bisan zoo.

Furthermore, there is no animal rights movement in the region and the zoo don't have supervision. Khan Younis zoo started to emblaming those animals who died and return them to their enclosures. Awaida said that after the Gaza war, he began to mummify his dead lions, monkeys, tigers, etc., by learning online how to do it. Whatsover, the dead animals outnumber the living ones.

Amir Khalil, the director of Four Paws, said that Khan Younis zoo “It's a prison”. His charity provided care to 40 animals of the zoo, with the help of volunteers.

VOCABULARY:

Neglect: descuidar, desatendre

Enclosures: recintes

Outnumber: supera en nombres

PERSONAL OPINION:

Honestly, if I have to write a personal opinion about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, I will never end. I'll just tell that a “war” between and expert army and civilian, it can't be named war. It'ss outrageous, but let's focus on this new.

Personally, I believe that the idea of mummifying tha dead animals, even if it is shocking to see the images, is the only way to see the lives lost because of the conflict. Once the rockets kill Palestinians, and then they are buried, they fall into oblivion. But in this way, we realize the reality.

Only showing what happens, we are aware of the damage caused. It doesn't matter if is a human or an animal, it is a life, and nothing justifies the killing of an innocent.

Sit exams early to fit in with Ramadan: Pupils taking GCSEs and A-levels face timetable shake-up to accommodate fasting Muslims

LINK
SUMMARY:

Thousands of students from England, specially in London, will do the key exams to enter to the university earlier than other years. Some exams will start before Ramadan, while others will be in the morning, not in the afternoon. The muslim holy month means that believers avoid food and drinks during hours, eating before daylight and after dusk.

This change means that all the students will have less days to revise, but this has been done to avoid muslims students present themselves in exams with low energy and have a disadvantage over their mates.

Bearing in mind that muslims in England represent almost the 5%, and they are minority, the timetable change recieved so many negative reviews. The secretary of the Muslim Council of Britan said that the decision “is fair and just, but this is no a privilefe and it is within the JCQ policy”. JCQ and Muslim groups met to discuss the calendar of the exams according to Ramadan.

There were also teachers who talked about going into exams without eating and drinking could affect their results. Mary Bousted, secretary of ATL, said that “as educators we want all children to be able to achieve their best in exams that are so crucial to their future”.

VOCABULARY:

JCQ: Joint Council for Qualifications is a council acting as a single voice for the six largest qualification providers in the UK.

Dusk: nightfall, vespre

PERSONAL OPINION:

From my point of view, this change timetable is extraordinary. That an european country changes the dates of examinations just because Ramadan will affect the capacity of relatively small amount of muslim students is something that I never would have thought.

This fact shows the attention that they pay in their students, no matter their religious. I agree with the fact of all the students going into their exams in the same conditions, it is logical. It has really surprised me, because as a muslim, I see myself preparing my PAU exams sleeping all day and studying all night. In my case, it affects me almost one week, (Ramadan starts 6th June and Selectivitat the 14th).

When I read this new, I thought if it could be possible in Spain. But after thinking about it, I realized that I can't compare and advanced country like England with the currently Spain. How will Spain change something related with religions if it can't even make up the needs of an important part of the country as Catalonia?